CAT Cheat Sheet

Here’s an advanced cheat sheet for the cat command, including some useful options and examples:

Basic Usage:

• cat filename: Display the content of a file.

Advanced Options:

1. Numbering Lines:

• -n: Number all output lines.
• -b: Number non-empty output lines. Example:

   cat -n file.txt

2. Display Non-Printable Characters:

• -v: Display non-printable characters as visible representations. Example:

   cat -v file.txt

3. Suppress Output:

• -s: Suppress repeated empty output lines. Example:

   cat -s file.txt

4. Concatenate Multiple Files:

• Concatenate and display the content of multiple files. Example:

   cat file1.txt file2.txt

5. Display $ at End of Lines:

• -e: Display a $ character at the end of each line. Example:

   cat -e file.txt

6. Display Tabs as ^I:

• -T: Display tab characters as ^I. Example:

   cat -T file.txt

7. Display Line Endings:

• -E: Show line endings as $. Example:

   cat -E file.txt

8. Output to Another File:

• Redirect the output of cat to another file. Example:

   cat file.txt > newfile.txt

9. Append to a File:

• Append the output of cat to an existing file. Example:

   cat file.txt >> existingfile.txt

10. Combine with Other Commands:
    • Use cat in combination with other commands using pipes (|) for complex operations.
    Example: cat file.txt | grep "pattern"

Remember, with great power comes great responsibility! Make sure to use these advanced options wisely and responsibly.